Send an SMS to track your bus

Muaz Shabandri / 17 December 2012 Long gone are the days of waiting around for bus number 29, thanks to a new SMS scheme announced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The new SMS information service, which was announced on Sunday, means waiting for a bus or Metro will become more convenient, as it allows public transport commuters to identify the exact time of arrival of their desired transport, by simply sending a text. “The RTA aims, through this service, to ensure that passengers are kept informed on the accurate timings of public buses and the Metro,” said Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA. To use the service, commuters can send an SMS to 5223 for real-time information (see box). Each bus stop in Dubai has a unique number, which is visible on the signboard at the stop. Previously, commuters had to rely on fixed schedules posted on signboards outside a bus stop or log on to www.wojhati.rta.ae. Adel Shakri, Director of Transport Systems, told Khaleej Times that the new service was aimed at making public transport more convenient in the city: “We want to encourage more people to use public transport facilities and this is an effort in the same direction,” said Adel. Sending an SMS can provide information on all public bus routes passing through a certain bus station, timings of a certain route, bus timings after a certain period of time and Metro timings at a station. Mobile phone users on the du network will have to wait until Wednesday to use the service. muaz@khaleejtimes.com Source : Khaleehtimes.com